"Bidisha was participating in a seminar at Sheraton Hotel on Saturday and was there till 9:00pm. So there's no question of taking her to Joint Interrogation Cell," Ershad, also a former president, told a press conference at the Banani party office yesterday.

He dismissed the press reports that claimed Bidisha was interrogated at the JIC on Saturday as baseless.

The former president, however, admitted to meeting Enayet Karim Chowdhury thrice in the last few days, at Sheraton Hotel being the meeting place on two occasions.

Karim, a Bangladeshi born US citizen was arrested on Monday from Chittagong for suspected links with the recent blast at the Shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal. He was placed on a 10-day remand and now is being interrogated by the JIC in the capital.

In reply to a question, Ershad said many a Bangladeshi expatriate wants to join JP to bring a positive change in political culture of Bangladesh.

He said Karim willingly met him and during those meetings, he (Karim) identified himself as an employee of United Nations and showed his identity.

Ershad said Karim claimed himself to be a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activist, but said he loves JP and wants its factions to reunite.

He rejected newspaper claims that Bidisha received gifts from Karim.